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CX2SA > SATDIG 13.10.14 14:09l 557 Lines 18802 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Forbes Article ARISS Contact, Better than Sex (EMike McCardel)
2. ANS-285 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins (Lee McLamb)
3. Yaesu FT-847 as a satellite rig? (Greg D)
4. Re: Yaesu FT-847 as a satellite rig (Kevin M)
5. Funcube registration (jerry keeton)
6. Re: Forbes Article ARISS Contact, Better than Sex
(Koos van den Hout)
7. Great symposium (Nick Pugh K5QXJ)
8. New Rotator X/Y as opposed to Azimuth/Elevation SPX X-Y Rotor
(Daniel Cussen)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:55:18 -0400
From: EMike McCardel <mccardelm@xxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Forbes Article ARISS Contact, Better than Sex
Message-ID: <70517B0F-EE1D-47A5-A666-79B736C29977@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2014/10/09/for-ham-radio-geeks-contact-wi
th-space-station-may-be-better-than-sex/
EMike McCardel, KC8YLD
VP for Educational Relations AMSAT-NA
Sent from my iPhone
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 10:09:33 -0400
From: Lee McLamb <ku4os@xxx.xx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-285 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
Message-ID: <543A8B9D.3040206@xxx.xx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-285
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur
Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org.
In this edition:
* AMSAT Officer Appointments
* Challenge Coin Premium for AMSAT Fox Donations
* 6th European CubeSat Symposium
* ARISS News
* NASA Invites Public to Send Your Name to Mars ? Starting on Orion?s
1st Flight
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-285.01
ANS-285 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 285.01
From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD.
October 12, 2014
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-285.01
AMSAT Officer Appointments
The following Officers of AMSAT-NA for 2014-2015 were appointed by the
Board of
Directors at their annual meeting held in Baltimore, MD.
President Barry Baines WD4ASW
Executive Vice President Open
VP Human Space Flight Frank Bauer KA3HDO
VP Engineering Jerry Buxton N0JY
VP Operations Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA
VP User Services JoAnne Maenpaa K9JKM
VP Educational Relations E. Mike McCardel KC8YLD
VP Marketing Open
Secretary Alan Biddle WA4SCA
Treasurer Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Manager Martha Saragovitz
[ANS thanks JoAnne, K9JKM, for the above information
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Challenge Coin Premium for AMSAT Fox Donations
AMSAT is excited to announce that a new premium collectable is now
available for
qualifying donations to the Fox satellite program. AMSAT has commissioned a
unique challenge coin for donors who have contributed at the $100 level or
higher. This challenge coin is shaped as an isometric view of a Fox-1
CubeSat,
complete with details such as the stowed UHF antenna, solar cells, and
camera
lens viewport. Struck in 3mm thick brass, plated with antique silver, and
finished in bright enamel, the coin is scaled to be approximately 1:4
scale, or
1 inch along each of the six sides. The reverse has the AMSAT Fox logo.
Coins will also be made available to qualifying donors that have contributed
since the Fox-1C announcement on July 18, 2014 upon request. Donations
may be
made via the AMSAT website, via the FundRazr crowdsourcing app at
http://fnd.us/c/6pz92/sh/561Zd, or via the AMSAT office at (888) 322-6728.
The Fox program is designed to provide a platform for university
experiments in
space, as well as provide FM repeater capability for radio amateurs
worldwide.
Fox-1A and 1C are set to launch in 2015, and Fox-1B (also known as
RadFXSat) is
awaiting NASA ELANA launch assignment. Further information on the Fox
project
can be found at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=1113.
You may donate here via PayPal. Donations will be marked specifically for
Fox-1C. Note that PayPal usually allows you to donate with a credit
card, even
if you do not have a PayPal account. However, PayPal requirements differ
depending on your country. We have no control over this issue.
[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6th European CubeSat Symposium
The 6th European CubeSat Symposium will take place from October 14-16,
2014 at
Estavayer-le-Lac in Switzerland.
The Symposium has attracted more than 100 abstracts submitted from 31
different
countries. Von Karman Institute and Swiss Space Systems are proud to
support the
CubeSat community by coorganising this leading CubeSat event in Europe,
for the
first time in Switzerland.
Von Karman Institute continues to act as the coordinator of the World?s most
ambitious CubeSat Project QB50, whereas Swiss Space Systems is designing an
innovative launcher specifically for small satellites to bring the
launch costs
to 25% of today?s market value.
The symposium abstracts are available at
https://www.cubesatsymposium.eu/download/BookOfAbstracts_6th_European_Cubesats
ym
posium_2014.pdf
6th European CubeSat Symposium https://www.cubesatsymposium.eu/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
The Winter Gardens Primary School, Canvey Island, United Kingdom and Pilton
Bluecoat School, Barnstaple, United Kingdom, telebridge via W6SRJ
Contact was successful on Wednesday 2014-10-08 at 10:08:49 UTC.
Team Sky and Rocket (NPO Sora-To-Rocket-Dan), Kariya, Aichi, Japan, is
scheduled
for a direct contact via 8J2YSM,Thursday 2014-10-09 09:00:05 UTC.
Indiana Area School District, Indiana, PA, is scheduled for a telebridge
contact
via IK1SLD on Friday, 2014-10-17 16:41:45 UTC.
ARISS is requesting listener reports for the above contacts. Due to
issues with
the Kenwood radio that are not fully understood at present, the Ericsson
radio
is going to be used for these contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for
their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n@xxxxx.xxx or
aj9n@xxx.xxx.
**************************************
From 2014-11-10 to 2014-12-07, there will be no US Operational Segment
(USOS)
hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be
conducted
by the ARISS Russia team.
[ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N, for the above information]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Invites Public to Send Your Name to Mars ? Starting on Orion?s
First Flight
by Ken Kremer on October 8, 2014
http://www.universetoday.com/115123/nasa-invites-public-to-send-your-name-to-
mars-starting-on-orions-first-flight/
NASA invites you to send your name to Mars via the first Orion test
flight in
December 2014. Deadline for submissions is Oct 31, 2014. Join over 170,000
others! See link below. Credit: NASA
Here?s your chance to participate in NASA?s ?Journey to Mars? and the first
flight of the new Orion spacecraft that will eventually transport humans
to the
Red Planet.
NASA invites you to send your name to Mars. And the adventure starts via the
first Orion test flight dubbed Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1)
scheduled for
blastoff on December 4, 2014 from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
This week NASA announced that the public can submit their names for
inclusion on
a dime-sized microchip that will travel on spacecraft voyaging to
destinations
beyond low-Earth orbit, including Mars.
Join over 170,000 others who have already signed up in just the first
few hours!
Since the Orion EFT-1 mission is set to launch in less than two months, the
deadline to submit your name is soon: Oct 31, 2014.
?NASA is pushing the boundaries of exploration and working hard to send
people
to Mars in the future,? said Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager, in a NASA
statement.
?When we set foot on the Red Planet, we?ll be exploring for all of humanity.
Flying these names will enable people to be part of our journey.?
How can you sign up to fly on Orion EFT-1? Is there a certificate?
NASA has made it easy to sign up and you can also print out an elegant
looking
?Boarding Pass?
Click on this weblink posted online by NASA today:
http://mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name/orion-first-flight/
[ANS thanks Universe Today and NASA for the above information]
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 16:17:07 -0700
From: Greg D <ko6th.greg@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Amsat BB <AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu FT-847 as a satellite rig?
Message-ID: <543B0BF3.9060209@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Hi folks,
My HF transceiver, and ageing Yaesu FT767GX, is slowly dieing. After 22
years in my service (and a few more with the prior owners), the memory
battery has failed. The rig still works, but gets a factory reset
whenever turned off. Annoying.
I have an opportunity to pick up a clean Kenwood TS-870-AT, which I
expect would make for a fine replacement, but I've always thought that
the Yaesu FT-847 would be a better choice. My current satellite rig is
a Yaesu FT-736R, which I really like.
As a satellite rig, is the 847 significantly better than the 736R? Does
it have any annoying "personallity" traits (e.g. Kenwood TS-2000's
148.800 birdie)?
Before I pass up the Kenwood 870 (and while there's a Yaseu 847 on
eBay...), should I jump on one or the other, or muddle along with what I
have until something better turns up?
Thanks,
Greg KO6TH
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:03:10 -0700
From: Kevin M <n4ufo@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu FT-847 as a satellite rig
Message-ID:
<1413162190.73437.YahooMailNeo@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I've never used a 736r, so I can't compare, but I presently have an 847. It
is an excellent satellite rig but not nearly as good as my TS-690s was on
HF, (I chase DX) However I've been learning to adapt and still bagging new
ones. Plus the extra 50 watts on 6m is nice. I also found it is not nearly
as user friendly with my MFJ external tuner... I have to adjust power on the
rig before hitting the tune button on the tuner. With my kenwood, it was one
button tuning right on the rig.
Some of it's quirks... it is prone to having problems with the power switch
going out. Mine has lost the 'catch' and won't stay closed, others have had
the contacts burn out. I have mine 'jumpered' in behind the switch and I
turn power on and off at the supply. Some have an issue of low headphone
volume, but that mostly is because it's designed for low impedance
headphones, not the 32 ohms ones commonly available today. If you plan
to use computer control the very earliest models did not have
bi-directional serial ports, but that can be checked by the serial
number... I believe it's a small number of rigs. Google is your friend
for information on that. =^)
For satellite, the named sat memories are nice and it has built in preamps
or it can power remote preamps. The extra filters are a little hard to come
by and can be expensive.I've only acquired a CW filter. Their are no birdies
that I am aware of. The rig was designed for satellite and that remains it's
forte. I had both rigs on my bench until my 690 developed a problem. Once I
got used to the 847 on HF, it was nice not to have to switch my key back and
forth or have two sets of headphones. What I am saying is, if you want a
great sat rig and an adequate HF rig, it is a fine choice. But if HF is your
primary goal and satellite is an after thought, keep your 736 and get
another HF rig.
Prices run $800 to $1000 for a used 847. I paid $1000 for mine on a local
purchase in very nice condition and sold the external speaker that came with
it. Prices have dropped in the last year or so and I wouldn't pay more than
$900 shipped unless it had the FC-20 external tuner with it. They can be
found for $800, but consider the condition. These rigs are coming up on 20
years and many parts are reaching the point of becoming unobtainium. -
Bottom line though... outside of a IC-910 or 9100, it's probably the best
satellite rig you can own. (personally, I like the layout better than the
910/9100s) If I had the money, I'd buy a spare.
As always... your mileage may vary, batteries not included, no warranties
expressed or implied. =^D
73, Kevin N4UFO
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Control is the need of the fearful mind. Trust is the need of the
courageous heart."
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 20:58:50 -0500
From: "jerry keeton" <jkboxk@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Funcube registration
Message-ID: <0287DF73C25945C0833787A29B038AA2@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Can't seem to get My coordinates formatted to register . I've tried every
combination with no success . Help ?
Thanks
WB5LHD ( Jerry )
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 11:10:42 +0200
From: Koos van den Hout <koos@xxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Forbes Article ARISS Contact, Better than Sex
Message-ID: <20141013091042.GA7077@xxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Quoting EMike McCardel who wrote on Sun 2014-10-12 at 08:55:
>
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2014/10/09/for-ham-radio-geeks-contact-wi
th-space-station-may-be-better-than-sex/
Weird title in the URL, I'd almost call it clickbait, especially since
the 'revised title' and the article text explains in more normal terms how
special it is to have a contact with the ISS as an amateur.
On a personal note: I will call CQ ISS when an ISS pass is at a fitting
time for me. It would be awesome to have an astronaut answer some day. The
yell when that happens will probably be louder than the one I made when I
had my first contact over an amateur satellite.
Koos van den Hout PD4KH
--
The Virtual Bookcase, the site about books, book | Koos van den Hout
news and reviews http://www.virtualbookcase.com/ | http://idefix.net/
PGP keyid DSS/1024 0xF0D7C263 | IPv6 enabled!
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:54:17 -0500
From: "Nick Pugh K5QXJ" <quadpugh@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: "'AMSAT'" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Great symposium
Message-ID: <076701cfe6cb$a7e22900$f7a67b00$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello00 All
The symposium this past weekend was fantastic
A big thanks to Frank and his crew and the inspiring talk by Jan King
nick
Office 337 593 8700
Cell 337 258 2527
Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 11:15:20 +0100
From: Daniel Cussen <dan@xxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] New Rotator X/Y as opposed to Azimuth/Elevation
SPX X-Y Rotor
Message-ID:
<CAF3DnKi9PxXvncywyU=QompJ8iBLpRk_DJtgHFWENEupcZt5GQ@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
New Rotator X/Y as opposed to Azimuth/Elevation
SPX X-Y Rotor
I am thinking of purchasing a new tracking system design, which uses
an unusual way of pointing the antenna. I was wondering if anyone else
has used this product or even the nearly identical non XY model?
http://www.rfhamdesign.com/products/spx-light-antenna-rotator/spx-x-y-rotor/in
dex.php#
Youtube video at the bottom does not work.
The benefits of it are supposedly better/faster positioning at the
elevation peak, due to the "two elevation, one over another" design.
There is a good description of why it might be good here:
Scroll down to conclusions
http://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/2937-selecting-a-pedestal-for-trackin
g-leo-satellites-at-ka-band
There are other benefits:
630 Euro plus shipping including USB computer interface (cheaper than Yaesu)
Fast motor movement (50 seconds for 360 degrees)
Can be compatable with Yaesu GS232 protocol or SPID driver
Downsides
Low strength 80nM only suitable for light antennas (such as the arrow etc)
Brand new model may have bugs or weaknesses
1 degree max position accurancy sensed by reed switch. Not 0.1 degrees
as per some expensive systems.
Cheaper computer interface/features compared to more expensive models.
Not available from anywhere else (yet)
3 weeks minimum delivery time
Strange to understand design
Strange to understand config. The az & el degrees are converted to XY
positions.
The main reason for taking the risk, is I want to do some small dish
tests for HAMTV from the ISS, and even most expensive tracking
systems, are too slow at fast peak elevations, particularly with
narrow beamwidth dishes.
So has anyone used one of these or any thoughts/comments on the design?
Dan EI9FHB
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx.
AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide
without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 9, Issue 353
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